Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-04-05
THE PICKING CATHEDRAL.
Removal OF Catholic Edifce Built
IN I1O2

San Francisco Chronicle, brought news
regarding Tie contemplated removal of
the ancient Catholic cathedral ut Pc
king and The beslowal Of high rank up
| on tie bishop and able of the diocese.
Since l702 this ediiice has stood within
the imperial city Of China. and its lofty
beethoven. overlooking the imperial
| palace grounds. has been regarded as
au obstacle 10 the good influences of
the spirits that haunt the Chinese inn
/. aginat.ous. Years passed, but all ef-
| forts 10 remove the building were fruit
less until during the last year. the arts
OF diplomacy prevailed and the cid ca
thcdral is TO be deserted. Its past his
tory is full of interest. and, through
the kindness of Rev. Father Barchi, of
St. Ignatius college. chronicle report
er obtained access to rare volumes in
the library which give history of the
cathedral from its inception.
In 1862 Father Gerbillion, a native of
Belgium. who by means of his mathe-
NAUTICAL attainments had become so
! necessary to the service of the Chinese
emperor. kang Hi, that lie had become
necessary to the council, ATTAINED a
decree authorlz ng freedom of Christian
worship throughout the country. IL
1902 Kang Hi was afflicted with fever,
and the native doctors were unable to
cure him. Father Gerbllion had
small quantity of quinine which the
Jesuit fathers had obtained in Peru,
and by the aid OF the drug cured the
imperial patient. AS a reward for this
action Kang Hi permitted the erection
of a cathedral in corner of the palace
grounds
The manda-ans. then as now, were
bitterly opposed to the erection of the
building, alleging the evil influences
which would ensue if the construction
was proceeded with. In reply to their
objections the emperor told them:
These strangers have rendered me in
finite service, they refuse money, hon
ors and office; they take delight in
their relig on. and in granting them
permission to build house for worship
| can only give them qualification.
kang Hi also gave the fathres gold val
ued at 100000 francs. VIII oh they in
vested in the stock of the British and
East land company, and until the dis
solution of that corporation, in 1857,
the interes on this sum was paid TO the
Propaganda of Rome for the mainten-
ance OF missions in China and the east.
As a further mark of honor the empe-
ror wrote two or three inscriptions.
which were carved on stone aud placed
in prominent positions in the church.
One, placed upon column, read as
follows: 10 the creator of every
, thing The others inscribed on tab
lets, were: HE is infinitely good and
just; He enlightens, upholds, and rules
everything with supreme authority and
with sovereign justice" HE had nc
) beginning and will have no end; He has
? made all things from the earliest time.
| He is the true Governor and the true
| Lord of them"
These inscriptions will doubtless bt
removed to the cathedral their value
being inestimable. not only in the eyes
: of the fathers, but also in the estimation
, Of the Chinese.
The building itself was about l25 fee
long and some 80 feet wide. Brick
!, and plaster were used in it's construc
ton. For nearly two centuries the ca
: tbeGral has stood undisturbed. Build
4 ings have been added in the shape of
=, arespital and dispensary, museum O
science, and Il room where a splendi
collection of tire fora aud fauna %
North China, made by Perc David, i
= arranged.
C. Attempts by the Chinese to remov
r the cathedral have been Intellectual. al
:, though every emperor and empires
!. since kan@ HIS time have used thei
:. endeavors by threats and persuasion
L III 1886 the empress dowager. who ha
Q made The removal of this building a
$ object. sought the aid of foreigners i
O the employ of Chinese customs, and b
=, dint of a mission to the pope. aided b
the influence of 1he French minister
- under whose government the father
: have enjoyed protection for man
i years, accomplished her desires Tn
/ fathers have rece we'd a piece of Ian
q on the northwest corner of the impe
=, rial palace grounds, whereOn thew wi
build new cathedral. Bishop Tagl
abue was decorated with the insight
;. of 4 mandarin of the first class. secon
# grade, and Able Favler received a blu
IS button, eutitling him to the rank of a
NJ. official of the first class. second grade
In addition to the land. $50, coo teal
(equal to $500, 000) is to be paid a
the cost OF erecting . new cathedral
The oRly restriction placed upon tn
II fathers is that the new cathedral shal
l. not be built any higher than the Chi
ID nese buildings, as the occult wind an
J. water influences. which any towe
would be likely to occasion, will b
thus avoided. 1t may be noted tina
the Jesuit fathers transferred their II
lgious buildings aud converts in Chin
to the Lazarists many years ago, an
4 it was with the principals of tina
mission that the Chinese government
dealt in their negotiations concernin
the removal of the cathedral.
7 The singular conduct of the emperor
1t granting honors and recognition of tn
S Catholic fathers. marks a new era i
the history of Christianity. 1t recall
the golden days of the Catholic churc
in China, when its missionaries wer
advisers and counselors of the empe
: rors.